WIC

WE HAVE MOVED TO OUR NEW LOCATION!

Our new address is 502 Orondo Ave, (on the corner of Oregon St. and Orondo Ave.)

WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. It is a food and nutrition program which improves the health and nutrition of pregnant women, new mothers, and young children up to five years of age. WIC is a FREE program that provides nutrition education, nutritious foods and help accessing health care to eligible low-income women, infants, and children. You are eligible for WIC if you:

Each additional family member, add $645 to the monthly income and $7,733 to the annual income.
*A household is defined as a group of related or non-related individuals, who usually, although not necessarily, are living together and share income.
**Gross income is income before taxes and deductions.

NOTE: Some types of income are excluded from the WIC income assessment, including certain types of military pay. Please contact our WIC clinic to see if you are income eligible.

• If you or a household member receive Basic Food Program benefits, Medical Assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or participate in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) you are AUTOMATICALLY income eligible for WIC.

Nutrition for your Family

Our food packages are customized to the client. Each client receives checks to buy over $50 worth of healthy foods each month. Infants and children receive age appropriate food ranging from infant formula, jarred food to complete food packages. Women who are pregnant qualify throughout their pregnancy, new mothers who are breastfeeding qualify for up to one year, and new mothers who are not breastfeeding qualify for six months.

Women and children receive checks to buy milk, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, cereal, juice, whole grains, eggs, and peanut butter or beans. Mothers who are totally breastfeeding their babies without formula are issued tuna and salmon in addition to a larger quantity of some of the other foods.

During summer months, eligible WIC clients can receive checks for the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. These checks allow them to purchase up to $20 per person (maximum of $40/family) Washington grown fresh fruits and vegetables at authorized Farmers Markets.

WIC is:

Accessible – access us in person, by phone or online
Client Centered– you lead the discussion and let us know what you need or want to know more about
Easy – it’s quick and easy to enroll. Our experienced staff will walk you through the simple paperless process

Breastfeeding Support

Clients receive encouragement and instruction in breastfeeding through individual appointments and a breastfeeding class. Participants and guests can learn why breastfeeding is the best start for their baby, how to breastfeed, managing breastfeeding while going back to work or school, how to pump and store breastmilk and much more.

WIC has electric breast pumps for loan and free manual breast pumps available for clients.

Nutrition Education Classes

Our interactive classes are varied, interesting and usually only 20 – 30 mins. They are in English and in Spanish and are always new and contemporary. It’s important for you to know how to use foods to improve your family’s health. Examples of available classes include:
• Weaning your child (from breast, bottle or sippy cup)
• Breastfeeding
• Introducing Your Infant to Solid Foods
• Physical Activity for your child
• Quick Cooking

What are the health benefits WIC?

Studies show that WIC plays an important role in improving birth outcomes and containing health-care costs. WIC has a positive impact on children’s diets. WIC improves infant-feeding practices by actively promoting breastfeeding as the best method of feeding infants. WIC clients have improved rates of childhood immunizations and a regular source of health care.

Improved infant-feeding practices

Premature births reduced

Fetal death rate reduced

Low birth-weight reduced

Long-term medical expenses reduced

Improved dietary intake

Improved cognitive development

Fewer premature births

What about fathers?

Fathers of children under the age of 5 are encouraged to enroll their children in the WIC program. Just like any other parent or guardian, fathers can bring their children to appointments, attend nutrition classes, and receive and redeem benefits for their children. Active participation by fathers is a great help in keeping WIC children healthy.

Washington WIC Does Not Discriminate

WIC Nutrition Program doesn’t discriminate. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html,and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632- 9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

This health center receives Health and Human Services (HHS) funding and has Federal Public Health Service (PHS) deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.